I love watching (& having a punt) on most sports - luv my AFL / NRL / NFL / NBA / NBL & golf to name but a few . Just cannot appreciate a game of soccer - find it as boring as bat poo compared to others . Never played it as a kid - & whilst i appreciate the skill in the game i get frustrated watching it. Pass, pass, beautiful long kick, pass, header to another player, pass , pass all the way down the field after skirting the side-line a few times then.....BOOT...........shot on goal that misses 99 times out of a hundred...........then boot by the goalie up the other end to start all over again ! Too often i have seen the team with superior field position either lose or draw a game - something that rarely occurs in high scoring games such as AFL & to a lesser extent NRL / Rugby. Now i know this post will upset a few, & the game is the biggest in the world, however i put that down to indoctrination at an early age. Anyhow i think the game would be much more entertaining to watch / fairer to the best team if the game was higher scoring.......so that the team who has more shots on goal has a greater chance of winning.........& that could easily be achieved by increasing the goal size by about a half ! Not a new idea.....& buckleys of happening........but do any others think along similiar lines ?

There is only one reason to watch........the penalties........player writhes in terminal agony, only to scamper away like a gazelle as soon as the penalty and/or red card comes out. Warner Bros would be impressed. I don't think there is any objective standard to apply to sports as to how watchable they are, the yanks love basketball, but it is a punishment to have to watch rather than a sport, imo. Just me maybe !

Yeah Max..........i also struggled with baseball..........then started to follow..........& now prefer it to cricket. Went to see a Yankees vs Mets game recently in New York & a great afternoon.Pressure on those pitchers is unbelievable & amazing behind the scene analysis on a ball by ball basis. So definately an aquired taste - yanks absolutetly luv it. I also find tennis tedious to watch these days..........don't mind the finals in big tournaments but thats about it. We are very fortunate to have AFL / NRL in this country........fantastic spectatator sports....second to none IMO.

Sorry Max.......misread.........thought u said baseball. I like having a bet on basketball (NBA / College & NBL).......like the overs/unders. Again i do appreciate the skill - just a game that discriminates against the physiques of 99% of the population. If you are less than 6 ft 10 inches & white you are unlkely to get a contract in the NBA - even Andrew Gaze only achieved bench status for a season or 2 over there ! Even so, can't help but be impressed by the likes of Le Bron James - absolute magnificent huge / agile athlete !

The attraction of soccer to its many followers is the difficulty of scoring.8 or 9 opposition players in a 50 m x 60 m half defending a goal 2.5 m x 7.3 m (18 square metres) against 6 or 7 propelling a spherical object that can only be propelled by foot or head past a 2+m high moving guard and an offside rule makes scoring extremely difficult.Hence the low scores and extreme displays of relief by players and spectators when one side can actually get the ball into the net.The exciting part of soccer is the build up to a shot.A goal is the ultimate thrill.But the many close shots and great saves make it an exciting game.

To ask for more goals implies that you want the defensive side of the game weakened which could only be done so through a netball style of designated defender.

I've been to low scoring NRL and AFL matches that have been much more absorbing than higher scoring games.

As far as basketball is concerned it was the NBL's outlawing of Zone Defences that made it a scoring free for all and ultimately a run and gun boring game.Watch college ball where zone defences are played and you'll see a much more interesting game where scoring becomes tougher against a range of defensive zone set ups.

Baseball is a really interesting game as evfery pitch can win or lose the game with the manager having the option of changing the line up as the state of the game changes. Once you become aware of the nuances of the game the chess like matching of skill against skill and trying to exploit a perceived weakness makes the game fascinating.

Fair analysis Wagga...........however don't u think the "arse factor" decides results in low scoring games.........i mean a deflection can give a team a 1 nil win in a soccer match..........in AFL the same thing is much less likely to decide a game

There is only one reason to watch........the penalties........player writhes in terminal agony, only to scamper away like a gazelle as soon as the penalty and/or red card comes out. Warner Bros would be impressed. I don't think there is any objective standard to apply to sports as to how watchable they are, the yanks love basketball, but it is a punishment to have to watch rather than a sport, imo. Just me maybe !

only time I ever watch basketball is at the Olympics....

what skills? being tall enough to lean over and put the ball in the net...

now wheelchair basketball is another story....great skill and entertainment...was a big fan of Sandy Blythe...

love baseball and soccer...have so many movies about baseball...Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, For the Love of the Game, A League of Their Own etc...

Fair analysis Wagga...........however don't u think the "arse factor" decides results in low scoring games.........i mean a deflection can give a team a 1 nil win in a soccer match..........in AFL the same thing is much less likely to decide a game

In a one off game, yes, the "arse factor" can decide a result.

Over a whole season though, as in all football codes, the cream rises to the top.

I played baseball, basketball and cricket for many years among other sporting forays. The most boring and thankless game by far was basketball. Too many ankle injuries and inconsistent/ambiguous umpiring. The skill level is grossly over rated. Local games are no more interesting than what you see on TV. In most cases the scoring will be a lot lower than the pros with a skill level that is often mundane. I'd rather watch high grade local aussie rules football any day. At least I can stand in the rain with a bbq banger in bread in one hand a can of amber nectar in the other. The crowd banter cannot be matched down at the local basketball courts.

Baseball on the other hand was always fun whether watching or playing. The local club had a great atmosphere for families. Cricket was by far my favourite game. The minute adjustments of line and length along with field placements can make a vast difference to the end result. The small nuances of both sports are fascinating and ever evolving. The club scene with cricket was never as family friendly as baseball though.

Soccer is little more than an imminent tragedy waiting to unfold. As others have stated, the side that dominates doesn't always win. It's a flukers sport and results often come down to questionable decisions from the refs. Don't get me started on penalty shoot outs. What an absurd way to end any game. It's also the game filled with players with the least sportsmanlike qualities.

Group & WFA racing, NH racing and Test Cricket ( ashes ) are about the only sports I really hate to miss these days, all other sports I can live without but watch out of the corner of my eye subliminally due to them constantly being on screens at work.

I didn't say I like pyjama or 20/20 cricket. They are pathetic "advances" to satisfy the needs of those with fleeting attentions. What's wrong with a draw? Time is a constraint all games are controlled by. The obsession some have with an outright result is boring. A draw is a fitting result for many contests. A scoreless draw is par for the course in soccer. Some insist that standing around for two hours watching nobody score at all is very exciting. I'm not one of them. For me the tension that builds on the field when scoring is tight in cricket is far more compelling by comparison. I loved fielding though. Many are too self obsessed to get into it. They want to be the bowler or they get petulant. Go play soccer instead and dribble to yourself all day!

I spoke about cricket from a playing perspective. As non players I don't expect anyone to get anything about the sport that I love to participate in. I don't care how many countries play any particular game. Global participation isn't a pre requisite for personal enjoyment.

If you want to highlight the extremities of any sport and its combatants it's very easily done. Many play and watch sport at a local level so the whole bribery/gambling issue is a non event. The best sport is not the one where the players are the highest paid. Mind you even low paid, low league, local soccer players have been caught in betting scandals. Never mind the leaders of the game who are constantly in trouble for racial abuse. The fans are even worse.

I played baseball, basketball and cricket for many years among other sporting forays. The most boring and thankless game by far was basketball. Too many ankle injuries and inconsistent/ambiguous umpiring. The skill level is grossly over rated. Local games are no more interesting than what you see on TV. In most cases the scoring will be a lot lower than the pros with a skill level that is often mundane. I'd rather watch high grade local aussie rules football any day. At least I can stand in the rain with a bbq banger in bread in one hand a can of amber nectar in the other. The crowd banter cannot be matched down at the local basketball courts.

Baseball on the other hand was always fun whether watching or playing. The local club had a great atmosphere for families. Cricket was by far my favourite game. The minute adjustments of line and length along with field placements can make a vast difference to the end result. The small nuances of both sports are fascinating and ever evolving. The club scene with cricket was never as family friendly as baseball though.

Soccer is little more than an imminent tragedy waiting to unfold. As others have stated, the side that dominates doesn't always win. It's a flukers sport and results often come down to questionable decisions from the refs. Don't get me started on penalty shoot outs. What an absurd way to end any game. It's also the game filled with players with the least sportsmanlike qualities.

I love most sports and don't find anything boring about a decent contest.

Football (soccer to some) = fantastic, I love it (still play it)AFL = love it, (watch the son play, I haven't played for 4 years)Tennis = Love it (still play)Baseball = Used to play, don't watch it often, but it is a great game.Basketball = My kids are very good at, watch them 4 nights a week, love it.Horse racing = Love itMotor Sports = Love it, watch as much as I can (V8 supercars, F1, Moto GP).Golf = I Play quite poorly, but love watching the pro's make it look so easy.Rugby = Never played, watch it a little, still find it a great sport.

Really, I will watch (and participate in almost any sport), just love watching a contest. I will sit and watch the world hotdog eating contest if it is on the TV.

I love most sports and don't find anything boring about a decent contest.

Football (soccer to some) = fantastic, I love it (still play it)AFL = love it, (watch the son play, I haven't played for 4 years)Tennis = Love it (still play)Baseball = Used to play, don't watch it often, but it is a great game.Basketball = My kids are very good at, watch them 4 nights a week, love it.Horse racing = Love itMotor Sports = Love it, watch as much as I can (V8 supercars, F1, Moto GP).Golf = I Play quite poorly, but love watching the pro's make it look so easy.Rugby = Never played, watch it a little, still find it a great sport.

Really, I will watch (and participate in almost any sport), just love watching a contest. I will sit and watch the world hotdog eating contest if it is on the TV.

With you on all those Saintly barring Women's Tennis...grunting and relative slowness, MotorSports...love watching motor bikes especially Northern Road Racing from Ireland, can't come at F1 or V8's, one guy gets in front and more often than not it becomes a procession and Rugby...like watching Rugby League but can't come at Rugby Union with all it's stoppages and penalty kicks at goal.

I love most sports and don't find anything boring about a decent contest.

Football (soccer to some) = fantastic, I love it (still play it)AFL = love it, (watch the son play, I haven't played for 4 years)Tennis = Love it (still play)Baseball = Used to play, don't watch it often, but it is a great game.Basketball = My kids are very good at, watch them 4 nights a week, love it.Horse racing = Love itMotor Sports = Love it, watch as much as I can (V8 supercars, F1, Moto GP).Golf = I Play quite poorly, but love watching the pro's make it look so easy.Rugby = Never played, watch it a little, still find it a great sport.

Really, I will watch (and participate in almost any sport), just love watching a contest. I will sit and watch the world hotdog eating contest if it is on the TV.

yep...my kids think I'm nuts because I will watch it all...including skiing, snowboarding and poker...it's a sport, isn't it?....only one I can't come at is darts....would rather watch grass grow....

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